Axminster type loom



1964 w. T. HARRISON ETAL AXMINSTER TYPE LOOM Original Filed Oct. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

1964 w. T. HARRISON ETAL 3,

AXMINSTER TYPE LOOM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 4, 1960 l l-I-lI l ll 3,157,206 AXMlNSTER TYPE LooM Wayne T. Harrison, Granhy, and Raymond J. Carrigan,

The present invention relates to the manufacture of Axminster-type carpets and rugs and more particularly to an improved apparatus for the manufacture of same. The present application is a divisional application filed as a resuit of a requirement of restriction under 35 U.S.C. 121' in our copending parent application Serial No. 60,382, filed October 4, 1969, now Patent No. 3,077,906 granted February 19, 1963. Said parent application Serial No. 60,382 was a continuation-in-part of our prior application Serial No. 59,559, filed September 30, 1960, entitled Axminster Type Carpet and Method and Apparatus for Making the Same, now abandoned.

Axrninster carpet, as conventionally manufactured, is

ing manufactured, a plurality of these yarn spools are linked together across the loom to form a weftwise row of pile.

An object of the invention'is to provide a modified Axminster-type carpet loom for forming pile loops, in addition to the conventional Axminster pile tufts.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of presently preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in vertical cross-section, of an Axminster-type carpet loom in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of the tube frame arm of the loo-m of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail side view of the tube frame arm, partly broken away;

F185. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic warpwise sectional views of the fabric at the weaving point illustrating successive steps of the weaving process, and;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a carpet produced by the loom of the invention, the spacing between the yarns being exaggerated for clarity of illustration.

In accordance with the invention we have devised a novel procedure for manipulating the pile inserting apparatus of an Axminster type loom, in combination with certain modifications of the binder warp shedding and other loom motions whereby the pile yarn ends protruding from the tubes of the tube frame can be formed into pile loops effectively bound into the carpet backing. The invention provides also a modified AXminster-type carpet backing which, as far as we are aware, is of novel construction.

The Axminstentype loom of the invention may be of any conventional construction with theaddition thereto of means whereby the tube frames at the point where they are introduced into and positioned in the shed, may be given a bodily motion backward and forward of the loom,

United States Patent BJE'LZQE Patented Nov. 17, 1964 that is, in the direction warpwise of the carpet which is being woven.

The novel Axminster carpet resulting from the practice of the method of the invention'is characterized by the presence therein of pile which is, at least in part, in the form of loops as distinguished from out tufts.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1, the loom selected for purposes of illustration and disclosure is, in general organization and construction, a conventional Axminstertype loom. The loom may be generally of the construction shown in the Holland Patent No. 1,898,988 or the Cooper Patent No. 1,953,044. The main frame comprises a side frame 2 connected by cross girts 4 to a second similar side frame, not shown. Between the side frames extends the breast beam 6, across which the woven fabric 8 is drawn from the fell or weaving point by a spike roll it). Binder warps 12, 12, lead forwardly from con ventional warp beams, not shown, through conventional heddles, not shown, to the fell. The wefts are inserted into the sheds formed of the binder warps by means of the usual Axminstcr needle as a double weft shot, as is conventional.

The pile yarns are supplied from a series of tube frames 14 of conventional construction which are brought in succession to a position above the weaving point by means of an endless carrier chain 16. Each tube frame includes a spool 18, on which the pile yarns are wound, and a transverse series of tubes 20, one for each longitudinal course of thecarpet, from each of which a pile yarn end 22 projects. The tube frames 14 are taken from the chain 16 and introduced into the sheds and manipulated therein for the formation of the pile by means of a pair of tube frame arms 24, to be described in more detail below.

When the pile formed with a given tube frame has been completed, the pile yarns are severed by means of knives 2s, 23 and the tube frame returned to the chain by the tube frame arms.

The loom includes the usual lay 30, with reed 32, pivoted on cross-shaft 34 for movement to and from the fell to beat the wefts into the woven fabric.

The novel tube frame arm and associated mechanism are shown in more detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. One only of the tube frame arms is shown in the drawing. It will be understood that the other arm, at the opposite side of the loom is of similar construction. The tube frame arm support 36 is keyed to a transverse shaft 39 for upward and downward swinging movement. The tube frame arm 24 is mounted for forward and backward sliding movement and for side to side swinging movement on the support 36. For this purpose a cage 38 of generally oblong form is disposed on an upper flat surface of the support 36 for pivotal movement about the axis of a stud 4-0 passing vertically through the support 36 and having the nut 42 and locknut 44 on its upper end to permit removal of the cage 38. The sidewise swinging movement of tube frame arm 24 is effected by a pull rod 46 in conventional manner. The other tube frame arm (not shown) is simultaneously moved, in the opposite direction; whereby the clutches 48 carried at the forward ends of the arms 24 are separated, when the arms are in raised position, to embrace a tube frame 14 on the chain 16 and the clutches 48 then moved toward each other to grasp the tube frame and hold it in position between the clutches 4% as the tube frame arms 24 are manipulated to detach the tube frame from the chain, lower it to the weaving position and manipulate it as desired.

The arm 24 carries eight rollers 50 rotatable on transverse axles 52 and running on flat surfaces inside the cage 33 to permit the novel forward and backward movement of the tube frame arms 24 and thus of the tube frame held ,in the clutches 48; The arm 24 is provided with an elongated opening 54 of a transverse width to snugly receive bushing 56 on stud 40. Forward and backward movement of the tube frame arm 24 is controlled by a cam 58 (FIG. 1) on the main shaft 6%). Cam S moves cam follower roll 62 to cause pivotal movement of cam lever 64 about its fixed pivot 66 on the loom frame. Through pull rod 67 the cam lever 64 imparts rocking movement to transverse shaft 63 and correspondingly to the arm 70 fixed thereto. The lower end of arm 70 is connected to the arm 24 to move the arm 24 forwardly and backwardly, through a link '72 having ball-joint connections to arm 7 i) and arm 24.

The loom further includes conventional means for rocking the tube frame clutches 48 about a transverse horizontal axis. Such means in the loom illustrated includes a rock shaft 74 connected through arm 76 and link 7 8 to the clutch 48.

Referring now to the diagrams of FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the method of the invention will be described. FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate successive phases in the weaving operation. Referring to FIG. 5, a first shed is formed of the binder warp 12 and the binder warp 12, as shown. The tube frame 14, having been taken from the chain by the tube frame arms 24 while the arms are in their forward position, is lowered toward the weaving point and during this movement the tube frame is tipped or rocked about a transverse horizontal axis so that the tube ends are moved forwardly and the tubes are disposed at an angle to the vertical whereby the ends of the pile yarn 22 protruding from the tubes of the tube frame 14 fall against the last row of pile tufts 89 as the tubes are entered between the binder warp threads of the warps (as seen in FIG. 5). As the tubes pass between the warp threads the tube frame is moved rearwardly by the cam 53 with the tubes at said angle. Clutch 4 8 is rocked about a transverse horizontal axis to tip the tubes to a substantially vertical position as the tube frame completes its move rearwardly. When the tubes are in the position show in FIG. 5 a first weft shot 82 is inserted in the first shed above the pile yarn 22 and with the pile yarn located between the shot 82 and the last-formed pile element 80, as shown.

The tube frame is then raised to lift the tubes out of the shed (FIG. 6) looping the pile yarn 22 about the weft shot 82. The shed is then closed, the lay comes forward to beat the weft shot 32 to the fell, and a second shed is formed. As the tube frame is raised from the shed it is moved forwardly and the dip arm 78 may be moved forwardly at the same time so that there is substantially no rocking movement of the tubes about a transverse horizontal axis.

The comb S4, conventional in Axminster looms, is then put out and put up, FIG. 7. Thereafter, the same tube frame is moved rearwardly by the cam 58 (the pile yarns not having been cut) and is moved downwardly to introduce the tubes and pile yarns between the binder warp threads of the second shed, FIG. 8. The portions of the pile yarns between the weft shot $2 and the tubes of the tube frame, that is portions adjacent the weft shot 82, are held up out of the shed and above the binder warp threads by the comb as the tube frame descends into the second shed. A second weft shot 83 is then inserted into the second shed above the pile yarn 22. The portions of the pile yarns which are being held above the binder warp threads are located between the weft shot 82 and the weft shot 88 and form the row of pile loops 86.

The tube frame is then raised out of the shed, FIG. 9, looping the pile yarn about the weft 88, and the knives 26, 28 are brought together to sever all of the pile yarns, leaving an upstanding row of pile tufts 90. The comb is lowered.

The second shed is closed and the lay moves forwardly to beat the second weft shot 88 to the fell. A third shed is formed and a third weft shot 92 is inserted into that shed. The third shed is closed and the third weft beaten up. In the meantime the tube frame has been moved forwardly by the cam 58. The tube frame arm in its forward postion will be raised to return the tube frame to the chain 16 and to take a new tube frame from the chain to be used in the succeeding cycle of the weaving operation.

It will be understood that appropriate dip or rocking movements are imparted to the tube frame by the dip arm 78 as and if required to provide clearances for the weft inserting needle, the lay, etc.-all as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

The described operations of shed-forming, weft-inserting, beating, pile cutting and motions of the tube frame and comb are repeated in the order described in successive weaving cycles to form the completed pile carpet.

As appears in FIG. 10, the binder warp threads are shedded in three successive different sheds. The binder warp thread Mr is in the lower shed line for the insertion of the first and second weft shots 2. 2 and 88 and in the upper shed line for the insertion of the third weft shot 92. Its companion binder warp thread $5 is in the lower shed line for the insertion of the first and third weft shots 8?; and 92 and in the upper shed line for the insertion of the second weft shot 88. The third binder warp thread 98 of the set of three is in the upper shed line for the insertion of the first weft shot 32 and in the lower shed line for the insertion of the second and third weft shots 83 and 92.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail this has been done only for the purpose of disclosure of the invention and not by way of limitation of the invention to this particular specific embodiment. Thus the carpet may be provided with outs, that is, pile positions in which there is no pile loop or tuft. Such outs may be arranged in the well-known check-and check pattern so that when a weftwise row is beaten up, loops and tufts will, in effect, be brought into the same row of pile to break up the rowiness of the pattern.

The tubes of the tube frames may, after the formation of a row of pile as described, be so introduced into the shed that the tubes enter between different binder yarn threads than those they entered between in the formation of the immediately preceding row of pile, so that the pile loops or tufts in the same pile yarn will be staggered weftwise of the fabric, again breaking up the rowiness, and distributing the colors to give a better textured effect to the pile surface.

The comb may be formed with different heights of teeth, the lower teeth forming lower or shorter pile loops than the higher teeth. The comb may be provided with mechanism for oscillating it transversely of the loom to break up streaks due to the different heights of the pile loops so formed.

It will be appreciated that the loom may be adjusted so that it will weave successive rows of pile loops by repeating as desired the described operations for weaving a row of pile loops.

The heights of the tufts and the heights of the loops may differ. The height of the loops can be adjusted by appropriate adjustment of the comb put-up motion and the height of the tufts, as is well known, can be adjusted by appropriate change of the draw-off cam and the knives 26, 28.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other and further modifications of the described weaving steps and the described arrangement of the pile loops and tufts can be made by the application of routine skill and knowledge of the art without departure from the invention:

We claim:

1. An Axminster carpet loom comprising the combination of means for supplying binder warps, means for shedding the binder warps, means for inserting wefts into the binder warp sheds, a lay for beating up the wefts, a tube frame having tubes for introducing pile yarns into th binder warp sheds, tube frame arms swingable about a vertical axis and movable linearly warpwise of the loom, clutches on said arms for engaging said tube frame and supporting it on said arms, a support for said arms movable to move said arms to move said clutches upwardly and downwardly, means for moving said arms to move said clutches when in the Weaving position warpwise linearly back and forth independently of said up and down motion, and means for rocking said clucthes on said arms about a weftwise axis independently of said up and down motion.

2. An Axminster carpet loom comprising the combination of means for supplying binder warps, means for shedding the binder warps, means for inserting wefts into the binder warp sheds, a lay for beating up the wefts, a tube frame having tubes for introducing .pile yarns into the binder warp sheds, tube frame arms, clutches on said arms for engaging said tube :frame and supporting it on said arms, supports on which said arms are swingable about a vertical axis and are supported for linear movement With respect thereto Warpwise of the loom, means for moving said supports to move said clutches upwardly and downwardly, and means for moving said arms when in the weaving position linearly with respect to said supports to move said clutches warpvvise linearly back and forth independently of said up and down motion.

3. An Axminster carpet loom comprising the combination of means for supplying binder warps, means for shedding the binder warps, means for inserting wefts into the binder warp sheds, a by for beating up the wefts, a plurality of tube frames each having tubes for introducing pile yarns into said sheds, an endless tube frame carrier chain for supporting said plurality of tube frames and bringing them in succession to the weaving point, tube frame arms for taking a tube frame from said chain and manipulating it to introduce pile yarns into said sheds, clutches on said arms for engaging a tube frame and supporting it on said arms, supports on which said arms are swingable about 'a vertical axis and supported 'for linear movement with respect thereto warpwise of the loom, means for moving said supports to move said clutches upwardly and downwardly, means for moving said arms simultaneously to move said clutches toward and from each other to engage and release a tube frame, and means tor moving said arms when in the weaving position linearly with respect to said supports to move said clutches warpwise linearly back and forth independently of said up and down motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,238 Wyman Jan. 17, 1893 1,865,221 Stone June 28, 1932 2,140,468 Coyle Dec. 13, 1938 2,945,511 Reinhardt July 19, 1960 

1. AN AXMINSTER CARPET LOOM COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR SUPPLYING BINDER WARPS, MEANS FOR SHEDDING THE BINDER WARPS, MEANS FOR INSERTING WEFTS INTO THE BINDER WARP SHEDS, A LAY FOR BEATING UP THE WEFTS, A TUBE FRAME HAVING TUBES FOR INTRODUCING PILE YARNS INTO THE BINDER WARP SHEDS, TUBE FRAME ARMS SWINGABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS AND MOVABLE LINEARLY WARPWISE OF THE LOOM, CLUTCHES ON SAID ARMS FOR ENGAGING SAID TUBE FRAME AND SUPPORTING IT ON SAID ARMS, A SUPPORT FOR SAID ARMS MOVABLE TO MOVE SAID ARMS TO MOVE SAID CLUTCHES UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ARMS TO MOVE 